Blue Star Planet, trading as 10bet, is to pay a £620,000 penalty package after a UK Gambling Commission investigation discovered an array of failings.
These were found in the group’s processes that were aimed at preventing money laundering and protecting vulnerable people following a compliance assessment.
Following the examination and subsequent regulatory review, failings in the firm’s AML policies procedures and controls and weaknesses in reporting arrangements were uncovered.
Furthermore, deficiencies in responsible gambling policies, procedures, controls and practices, including flaws in implementation, are also reported.
The regulator noted that between November 2019 and June 2021, Blue Star Planet failed to comply with an array of clauses in the licence conditions and codes of practice, as well as the social responsibility code provision.
This includes breaches of LCCP paragraphs 1,2 and 3 of licence condition 12.1.1, which concerns compliance with the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as paragraph 1 of 12.1.2.
This requires operators based in foreign jurisdictions to comply with the money laundering, terrorist financing and transfer of funds regulations 2017.
A breach of paragraph 1a of licence condition 8.1.1 was also found, which requires licensees for remote gambling to display on every screen, from which customers are able to access gambling activities, a statement that they are licensed and regulated by the UKGC, account number and a link to their current status on the Commission website.
Moreover, breaches of paragraphs 1b, 1c and 2 of the SRCP were also unearthed, which requires licensees to interact with customers in a way that minimises the risk of experiencing harms associated with gambling.
The UKGC also added that senior management should have been aware of governance issues that lead to the breaches, which was noted as an aggravating factor in the case.
Other issues labelled as such were the serious nature of the breaches identified,impact on the licensing objectives and need to encourage wider compliance.
Mitigating measures include the extent of remedial steps taken, early recognition of failings and co-operation throughout.
The regulatory statement consists of a £620,000 payment in lieu of a financial penalty, agreement to the publication of a statement of facts in relation to the vase and funding on Commission costs, which come in at £3,571.25.
This becomes the latest UKGC regulatory action issued this year, following Intouch Games being handed down a financial penalty of £6.1m, a third in four years; TonyBet being penalised £442,750 and Vivaro, trading as VBet, making payments in lieu of a penalty package of £337,631.
